rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第15节

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　Treloar　retired　to　his　room　and　slept　for　several　hours。　By　the　time　he　awoke；　darkness　had　descended　over　the　city。　He　showered；　shaved；　put　on　a　fresh　suit；　and；　bundled　up　in　a　warm　overcoat；　went　out　into　the　night。
　The　thoughts　came　unbidden　as　he　walked。　As　much　as　they　rankled　him；　he　could　never　make　them　go　away。　So　he　surrendered；　allowing　them　to　wash　over　him；　breathing　shallowly　until　they　were　spent。
　Adam　Treloar　believed　himself　to　be　marked　as　Cain　had　been　marked。　He　was　cursed　by　terrible　desires　that　he　could　neither　control　nor　escape　from。　They　were　the　reason　why　he　had　bargained　away　his　career　at　Bauer…Zermatt。
　In　another　lifetime；　Treloar　had　been　the　star　of　Bauer…Zermatt's　virology　division；　preening　in　the　respect　of　his　peers　and　the　adulation　of　his　subordinates…　one　subordinate　in　particular；　a　sloe…eyed　fawn　so　beautiful　that　Treloar　had　found　the　temptation　irresistible。　But　the　fawn　had　turned　out　to　be　a　goat；　tethered　to　one　of　Bauer…Zermatt's　petitors。　The　goat　was　meant　to　snare　the　unwary　suitor；　promise　him；　and　force　him　to　bend　to　the　petitor's　will。
　Treloar　had　never　seen　the　trap；　he'd　only　had　eyes　for　the　fawn。　But　he　saw　plenty；　later；　when　men　arrived　at　his　apartment　and　played　sex　tapes　in　which　he　had　a　starring　role。　They　offered　a　cold　choice：　exposure　or　cooperation。　Because　of　the　proprietary　nature　of　Bauer…Zermatt's　research；　every　employee　had　to　sign　a　strictly　worded　contract　whose　provisions　included　a　morals　clause。　Treloar's　tormenters　made　a　point　of　reminding　him　about　that　as　they　replayed　the　video。　They　drove　him　to　face　the　fact　that　his　options　were　few：　hand　over　information　about　the　pany's　research；　or　face　exposure。　Of　course；　exposure　would　not　be　the　end　of　it。　Public　branding　as　a　deviant　would　follow。　Then；　after　all　the　publicity；　the　civil…　and　probably　criminal…　charges；　it　would　be　futile　for　him　to　try　to　find　another　job　anywhere　in　the　medical　research　munity。
　Treloar　was　given　forty…eight　hours　to　consider　his　choices。　He　wasted　the　first　twenty…four　doing　just　that。　Then；　as　he　looked　into　a　future　that　held　nothing　but　ruins；　he　realized　that　his　blackmailers　had　overreached：　they　had　placed　him　in　a　position　where　he　had　nothing　to　lose　by　fighting　back。
　By　virtue　of　his　seniority　at　Bauer…Zermatt；　Treloar　was　able　to　secure　a　meeting　with　Dr。　Karl　Bauer　himself。　In　the　elegant　surroundings　of　Bauer's　Zurich　office；　he　laid　out　his　trespasses　and　the　way　in　which　he　was　being　blackmailed。　He　offered　to　make　amends　any　way　he　could。
　To　Treloar's　surprise；　Bauer　seemed　nonplussed　at　the　turn　of　events　that　had　befallen　his　wayward　employee。　He　listened　without　ment；　then　instructed　Treloar　to　e　back　the　next　morning。
　To　this　day；　Treloar　had　no　idea　what　had　transpired　behind　the　scenes。　The　following　morning；　when　he　appeared　before　Bauer；　he　was　told　that　he　would　never　hear　from　the　blackmailers　again。　Evidence　of　his　peccadilloes　was　no　longer　in　the　public　domain。　There　would　be　no　repercussions…　ever。
　But　there　would　be　repense。　Bauer　informed　Treloar　that　in　return　for　saving　his　future　in　the　medical　research　munity；　Treloar　would　soon　leave　the　pany。　An　employment　offer　would　arrive　from　NASA；　he　would　accept　it。　His　colleagues　would　be　told　that　he　was　seizing　the　chance　to　do　the　kind　of　research　he　could　never　be　involved　in　if　he　stayed　at　Bauer…Zermatt。　Once　he　arrived　at　NASA；　he　would　place　himself　at　the　disposal　of　Dr。　Dylan　Reed。　Reed　would　be　his　guide　and　mentor；　and　Treloar　would　obey　him　without　question。
　Treloar　recalled　the　cold；　precise　way　in　which　Bauer　had　handed　down　his　edict。　He　remembered　the　flash　of　anger；　then　the　amusement　in　Bauer's　eyes　when　Treloar　had　timorously　asked　what　kind　of　research　he　would　be　doing　at　NASA。
　〃Your　work　will　be　of　secondary　concern；〃　Bauer　had　told　him。　〃It　is　your　connection　to　your　mother；　to　Russia；　that　interests　me。　You　will　be　seeing　her　on　a　regular　basis；　I　think。〃
　Treloar　shouldered　his　way　against　the　wind　as　he　turned　away　from　the　bright　lights　of　Gorky　Square　and　into　the　dark　streets　that　led　into　the　Sadovaya　District。　The　bars　became　seedier；　the　homeless　and　the　drunks　more　aggressive。　But　this　was　not　Treloar's　first　visit　to　Sadovaya；　and　he　was　not　afraid。
　Half　a　block　away；　he　saw　the　familiar　flashing　neon　sign：　KROKODIL。　A　moment　later；　he　rapped　on　the　heavy　door　and　waited　for　the　Judas　hole　to　open。　A　pair　of　black；　suspicious　eyes　examined　him；　then　the　bolt　was　released　and　the　door　opened。　On　his　way　in；　Treloar　gave　the　giant　Mongolian　bouncer　a　twenty…dollar　bill　for　the　cover　charge。
　Shrugging　off　his　coat；　Treloar　felt　the　last　of　his　thoughts　dissolve　beneath　the　hot　lights　and　the　screaming　music。　Faces　turned　his　way；　eyes　impressed　by　his　Western　suit。　Gyrating　bodies　bumped　him；　more　by　design　than　by　accident。　The　manager；　a　thin；　ferretlike　creature；　hurried　over　to　greet　his　foreign　customer。　Within　seconds；　Treloar　had　a　glass　of　vodka　in　his　hand　and　was　being　escorted　along　the　edge　of　the　dance　floor　to　a　private　area　of　velvet…covered　couches　and　soft　ottomans。
　He　sighed　as　he　relaxed　among　the　cushions。　The　warmth　of　the　liquor　made　his　fingertips　tingle。
　〃Shall　I　fetch　you　a　sample？〃　the　ferret　whispered。
　Treloar　nodded　happily。　To　pass　the　time；　he　closed　his　eyes　and　let　the　music　roar　through　him。　He　stirred　when　something　soft　grazed　his　cheek。
　Standing　in　front　of　him　were　two　blond…haired　boys；　their　eyes　a　perfect　blue；　their　plexions　flawless。　They　could　not　have　been　more　than　ten　years　old。
　〃Twins？〃
　The　ferret　nodded。　〃And　better；　virgins。〃
　Treloar　groaned。
　〃But　they　are　very　expensive；〃　the　ferret　warned　him。
　〃Never　mind　that；〃　Treloar　said　hoarsely。　〃Bring　us　some　zakuski。　And　soft　drinks　for　my　angels。〃
　He　patted　the　cushions　on　either　side　of　him。　〃e　to　me；　my　angels。　Give　me　a　taste　of　heaven。。。。〃
　
　Six　kilometers　from　the　Krokodil　are　the　three　high…rises　known　collectively　as　Dzerzhinsky　Square。　Until　the　early　1990s；　it　had　been　the　headquarters　of　the　munist　KGB；　after　democratization；　the　plex　was　taken　over　by　the　newly　formed　Russian　Federal　Security　Service。
　Major…general　Oleg　Kirov；　hands　behind　his　back；　stood　in　front　of　the　windows　of　his　fifteenth…floor　office；　looking　out　at　the　Moscow　skyline。
　〃The　Americans　are　ing；〃　he　murmured。
　〃What　did　you　say；　dusha？〃
　Kirov　heard　the　tap　of　heels　on　hardwood；　felt　slender　fingers　slide　across　his　chest；　inhaled　the　warm；　sweet　perfume　borne　on　the　words。　He　turned　and　took　the　beautiful　brunette　into　his　arms；　kissing　her　hungrily。　His　passion　was　returned　as　he　felt　her　tongue　teasing　his；　her　hands　slipping　to　his　belt；　then　lower。
　Kirov　pulled　back；　gazing　into　the　provocative　dark　eyes　that　tantalized　him。
　〃I　wish　I　could；〃　he　said　softly。
　Lieutenant　Lara　Telegin；　Kirov's　aide…de…camp；　stood　with　arms　akimbo；　surveying　her　lover。　Even　in　the　drab　military　uniform　she　looked　like　a　runway　model。
　〃You　promised　me　dinner　tonight；〃　she　pouted。
　Kirov　couldn't　help　but　smile。　Lara　Telegin　had　graduated　at　the　top　of　her　class　at　the　Frunze　military　academy。　She　was　an　expert　marksman；　the　same　hands　that　caressed　him　could　take　his　life　in　a　matter　of　seconds。　Yet　she　could　be　as　shameless　and　provocative　as　she　was　professional。
　Kirov　sighed。　Two　women　in　one　body。　Sometimes　he　wasn't　sure　which　was　the　real　one。　But　he　would　enjoy　them　both　for　as　long　as　he　could。　At　thirty；　Lara　was　just　beginning　her　career。　Inevitably　she　would　move　on　to　other　posts；　and　finally　a　mand　of　her　own。　Kirov；　twenty　years　her　senior；　would　go　from　being　her　lover　to　her　godfather…　or；　as　the　Americans　liked　to　say；　a　〃rabbi〃　who　would　look　after　the　interests　of　his　favorite。
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　about　the　American；〃　Lara　said；　all　business　now。　〃Which　one　is　it？　We　get　so　many　these　days。〃
　〃I　didn't　tell　you　because　you　were　gone　all　day　and　I　had　no　one　to　help　me　with　this　infernal　paperwork；〃　Kirov　grumbled。　He　handed　her　a　puter　printout。
　〃Dr。　Jon　Smith；〃　she　read。　〃How　very　mon。〃　She　frowned。　〃USAMRIID？〃
　〃Our　Dr。　Smith　is　anything　but　mon；〃　Kirov　said　dryly。　〃I　met　with　him　when　he　was　stationed　at　Fort　Detrick。〃
　〃　‘Was'？　I　thought　he　still　is。〃
　〃According　to　Randi　Russell；　he　still　has　an　association　with　USAMRIID　but　is　on　indefinite　leave。　She　called　to　ask　if　I　would　see　him。〃
　〃Randi　Russell。。。〃　Lara　let　the　name　hang。
　Kirov　smiled。　〃No　need　to　get　catty。〃
　〃I　only　bee　catty　when　there's　good　reason；〃　Lara　replied　tartly。　〃So　she's　paving　the　way　for　Smith。。。　who；　it　says　here；　was　engaged　to　her　sister。〃
　Kirov　nodded。　〃She　died　in　the　Hades　horror。〃
　〃And　would　Russell…　whom　we　both　suspect　operates　a　CIA　front…　vouch　for　him？　Are　the　two　of　them　running　some　kind　of　operation？　What's　going　on；　dusha？〃
　〃I　think　that　the　Americans　have　a　problem；〃　Kirov　said　heavily。　〃Either　we're　part　of　it　or　they　need　our　help。　In　any　event；　we　will　find　out　soon　enough。　You　and　I　will　be　seeing　Smith　tonight。〃
　
　
　In　the　waning　afternoon　Smith　stepped　out　of　the　apartment　block　on　Ulitsa　Markovo。　He　turned　his　collar　against　the　wind　and　stared　up